Pattie Carr, director of the Dickinson State University Dance Program, was recently invited to the Jin Xing Dance Theatre Shanghai in Minneapolis. The performance was presented by Northrop Concerts Lectures and Arts.

Carr was invited to represent DSU as the guest of Jan Webb, executive director of the North Dakota Council on the Arts and David Fraher, executive director of Arts Midwest. The invitation was extended to Carr due to her work with the Arts Midwest Dance Tour as a part of the Arts Midwest Performing Arts Funds. The Performing Arts Fund has given Dickinson State University and the southwest area of North Dakota the opportunity to host professional dance companies on four different occasions. The most recent was a week-long residency with the Elisa Monte Dance Company.

The Elisa Monte Dance Company taught a variety of classes to students of Dickinson State University, Dickinson High School, Trinity High School, New England High School and Mott-Regent High School. The company also taught classes as Hawks Point, Able, Inc., and the West River Community Center.

"The Elisa Monte Residency was a life-changing experience for all involved from the professional dancers, the students and the community," said Carr. "We learn about ourselves as individuals and as a community as we learn about the arts."